By Jones of Lubbock                                   H.J.R. No. 29
         77R860 SMJ-D                           
                                 A JOINT RESOLUTION
 1-1     proposing a constitutional amendment to permit the commissioners
 1-2     court of a county to call an election to abolish the office of
 1-3     constable in the county.
 1-4           BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 18, Article V, Texas Constitution, is
 1-6     amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
 1-7           (h)  The commissioners court of a county may call an election
 1-8     on the question of whether the office of constable in the county
 1-9     should be abolished.  If the commissioners court calls an election
1-10     under this subsection, the court shall order the ballot for the
1-11     election to be printed to permit voting for or against the
1-12     proposition:  "Abolition of the office of constable in ________
1-13     County." The name of the applicable county shall be inserted into
1-14     the blank space.  If a majority of the voters of the county voting
1-15     on the proposition at the election approve the proposition, the
1-16     office of constable in the county is abolished, and the powers,
1-17     duties, and records of each constable's office are transferred to
1-18     the county sheriff.
1-19           SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
1-20     submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 6,
1-21     2001.  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against
1-22     the proposition:  "The constitutional amendment permitting the
1-23     commissioners court of a county to call an election to abolish the
1-24     office of constable in the county."